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Thursday, February 09, 2006
Discrepancy in Budget Reconciliation Bill Causes Problems
The budget reconciliation bill passed by the House on February 1 was apparently different from the bill that was sent to President Bush for his signature. The discrepancy between the bills involves a provision that was intended to allow Medicare beneficiaries to purchase home-oxygen devices as opposed to paying endless rental fees. However, a clerical error made during the enrollment of the bill changed the policy to apply to practically all medical equipment. House and Senate aides are pointing fingers at each other for this change.
The GOP leadership is hoping to quickly change the language by moving the bill though both chambers under unanimous-consent agreements. Some Congressional Democrats, however, frustrated with the specifics of the bill (it cuts $40 billion from entitlement programs over five years) as well as with their sometimes-tense relationship with the majority, are wary of cooperating quietly. It is unclear right now whether voting will take place on the entire bill, or on a narrow part of the measure.
The Hill: Small Typo, Big Headache
Posted by Becky Lewis
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